Apple is reportedly working on the iPhone 17e, the successor to the iPhone 16e, which could debut as early as May 2026, according to a tip from Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo. After the discontinuation of the iPhone SE (2022), the iPhone 16e has become Apple’s entry-level smartphone, and it appears that Apple plans to follow a yearly release schedule for its new ‘e’ series models.
The tipster claims that trial production for the iPhone 17e is already underway, with Apple remodelling the production lines for the iPhone 16e. This suggests that the iPhone 17e will be Apple’s second entry-level iPhone without SE branding, continuing the trend of offering affordable smartphones with powerful features.
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The iPhone 16e, priced at Rs. 59,900 in India, is the first to feature Apple’s new C1 modem and is powered by the A18 SoC, the same chip found in the iPhone 16 series.
This makes the iPhone 16e more future-proof compared to older models like the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which retail for Rs. 69,900 and Rs. 79,900 respectively. While these older models offer features like Dynamic Island, MagSafe support, and faster charging, they lack support for Apple Intelligence features.
The iPhone 17e is expected to bring similar performance improvements and a competitive price, making it a strong contender in the affordable smartphone market.
